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PAELLA the stowaway kitten will soon be on his way to a new home in Britain after being found in a Spanish lorry in Portsmouth.

The friendly tabby, thought to be around four weeks old, was spotted by border officials during a routine search of vehicles leaving a ferry at Portsmouth International Port.

It’s thought he was sheltering in the lorry with his mother in Spain, before getting trapped in the vehicle alone when it started its journey to the UK.

Portsmouth City Council, which runs the port, arranged for him to be cared for by Cats Protection, which gave him his name.

When Paella was found, vets were not sure if he would survive. He has spent the past few weeks getting over his ordeal and recovering from an infection, and his future is now looking positive.

He is in quarantine in Hampshire until early November, after which the charity will find him a new home locally.

Steve Bell, environmental health team leader at the council, said: ‘It’s a pretty unusual thing to happen. We made him as comfortable as possible and asked Cats Protection if they could take him in, which they very kindly did. We hope he’ll soon find a home.’

To register an interest in adopting Paella, call the Cats Protection national helpline on 03000 12 12 12.’